Sage is an herb that is usually used for adding flavor to dishes. Along with seasoning recipes, it also imparts a significant nutritional value to food.
If you travel back in time, you will find that spiritually inclined indigenous cultures considered sage a sacred herb and would often use it in their cleansing ceremonies.
They would bundle up dried sage and burn them.
This cleansing method is today referred to as “Smudging.”
Spiritual practitioners also endorse sage cleansing to remove heavy and evil energies. Some people burn sage to prep space before beginning their meditation practice.
Whether it is to disinfect the air or cleanse one’s aura, sage cleansing seems to offer many benefits to users.
Below we have found out some of the top benefits of burning sage.
8 Benefits Of Burning Sage – Smudging
Improves Air Quality
White sage has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and is a natural insect repellent. Thus burning sage can clear the air of germs and purify the atmosphere.
We are not sure if the native ancient cultures were aware of this, but when you burn sage, the negative ions in them may help to remove allergens like mold, pollen, and animal dander from the air.
If you have dust allergies or asthma, burning a small amount of sage every other day may help to clean the air in your space, but always check with a medical professional before doing so.
We all know there are significant dangers of inhaling too much smoke, and if you have a lung or breathing condition, it could be worse. Check with a doctor!
Calming Influence
We live in a comparatively demanding era where we constantly need to expend our energies throughout the day. This fast-paced lifestyle drains our life energies which causes us to become stressed and washed out.
And how do we cope with this situation?
Smoking a cigarette or downing a few pegs does us more harm. A healthier and more effective option is aromatherapy. Instead of reaching out for essential oils, try burning some sage and seeing the results yourself.
The soothing fragrance of dried sage induces calmness and reduces stress. For someone prone to mood swings, anxiety, or panic attacks, sage cleansing can help ease the condition.
Sage’s gentle fragrance enables you to uplift your mood and feel peaceful inside.
Good For Insomnia
One of the most common reasons we can’t get a good night’s sleep is a hyperactive mind. As mentioned above, the gentle scent released when sage is burnt relaxes the mind. Once the mind’s momentum slows down, the body relaxes, and you cannot help but fall into a deep sleep.
Sage burning can help those who suffer from occasional spells of insomnia; before retiring to bed, prep the room by burning sage. Once the herb reduces to ash, a mild smoke will linger in the air, soothe your body and mind to sleep.
From a mystical point of view, it is believed that when an area is infested with heavy energy bodies, it disrupts our energy levels, which is why sometimes we get a good sleep in some places. In contrast, getting shut-eye at some other places is impossible. When done regularly, sage cleansing can help develop a more positive atmosphere conducive to sleeping.
Improves Energy Level
Have you noticed how plants grow vibrantly and have lots of bloom when they grow in the right kind of atmosphere? Similarly, we also need an environment teeming with positivity and vibrancy to develop high energy levels.
Our surroundings have a direct effect on our health and well-being. So instead of taking our word, try it out for yourself. Whenever you feel down or depressed, burn a handful of dried sage, notice if there is any change in your energy levels, and let us know!
Clean Energies
From the time we come into this world, we have all kinds of experiences, some good and some not-so-good. The not-so-good experiences can come in the form of trauma that gets stored in our bodies in most cases. If not released, they manifest as diseases in the future. Just like our bodies, everything else in this universe absorbs energies.
This would explain why we feel great when we walk into a meditation center and feel sick when we walk into a hospital. People and places harbor energies from all sorts of events. Sage cleansing can dispel residual energies from any location, including your psyche.
When you perform the smudge ceremony, set an intention and affirmation to help you get the best results. For example, you can use this technique to release any trauma or past hurt that might be trapped in your heart and spirit. You can also perform this ritual on new objects you bring into your home.
Spiritual Practices – Multiple Benefits!
Sage has medicinal and spiritual significance. Indigenous cultures give great importance to spiritual evolution. This is the reason why sage was generously used as an aid in ancient spiritual practices.
Natives believe that sage has the power to expand our consciousness and help us attain spiritual evolution.
According to scientific studies, there might be truth in this belief because sage contains a chemical called thujone that exhibits psychoactive properties. Although not psychedelic, sage can support our spiritual evolution.
Natural Air Freshener
Who wouldn’t want a home that smells like heaven? Instead of using synthetic chemical-ridden air fresheners, use natural sage.
Burning sage makes your space smell good and improves the quality of air.
Is Sage Burning safe for my kids and pets?
Sage is an herb and has a lot of medicinal properties. However, burning anything can create smoke which can cause respiratory issues when done in excess.
When you do a sage cleanse, ensure the windows are open. You should always burn sage in a well-ventilated area, especially if you have kids or pets. Never burn sage too close to a child or pet; do not leave it unattended.
And also, you don’t need to burn a huge quantity; use the right amount depending on the size of your home.
You could always test it by burning a small amount of sage before continuing it as a regular practice.
Have fun!